TRAIL TALK: Beautiful time of year to hit the local trails

New England Asters.

We have been having excellent weather for hiking lately; cool mornings and usually sunny afternoons with few if any biting insects.

Most of the trails’ wet spots are dry, making it a beautiful time of year to hit the local trails.

For those suffering with allergies, but are avid hikers, the golden rods are now in full bloom. There are about 10 different varieties that grow in our area.  They are sometimes blamed for allergy problems, but usually ragweed is the problem, with its non-showy green blossoms at the same time as rag goldenrod.

The common ragweed is relatively small (1 to 5 feet) and Giant ragweed can grow to 15 feet.  There is a lot of giant ragweed at the Clinton Conservation Area, where I measured one stalk at 13 feet high.

An interesting plant out now is the closed bottle gentian, which I first discovered on the Maitland Trail near Bishop’s Road. There are also a few on the Hullett Green Trail.

Asters also have many different varieties, such as calico and panicle, the showiest being the New England aster, with large purple flowers.

We had a good four-day end-to-end hike on the Maitland Trail over the Labour Day weekend, with 13 participants, but only three managed to hike the full trail.

On September 20 and September 21 many more hikers will hike the whole trail in two days as part of the Maitland Camino event that attracts about 180 hikers each year.

While in the Wingham area, I made a side trip to explore the Wroxeter (0.92km) and Gorrie (1.5 km) walking trails. They are both flat and have a good stone dust surface, so they are excellent for walkers who have difficulty with hills and/or uneven surfaces.

I was lucky enough to see a Monarch on the Wroxeter Trail and two viceroys on the Gorrie Trail.  The viceroy looks like a small monarch with a black line added on their hind wings.

NOTES:

The Menesetung Bridge across the Maitland River at Goderich is now closed to pedestrians and cyclists until an expected completion date in November.

The trail entrance at 80918 Sharpes Creek Line is now closed due to work on the planned southwards expansion of a gravel pit.  The new trail entrance is about one-kilometre further south.

September 26-28 - Hike Ontario is having its annual Summit. This year sponsored by the Elgin Trail Hiking Club, which like Maitland and Avon Trail is celebrating its 50th Anniversary.  For details contact pcapper99@gmail.com

Saturday, September 27 at 11 a.m. - Join the monthly Mindfulness Walk starting at the Millennium Trail entrance on Nelson Street. For details contact Tanya Macintyre at redroofrecovery@gmail.com or text 519-616-3636.

Sunday, September 28 at 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Cycling Auburn to Blyth and return. We can enjoy the tunnel under Hwy 25 and enjoy a break in Blyth before returning to Auburn.

Please bring a bicycle in good working order, a helmet and water. Meet at the end of Hardwood Line in Auburn.

For car shuttle arrangements and to confirm your attendance, please contact Sally Brodie at 226-378-1648. This is a Level 1 moderate paced bike ride, approximately 2 hours.

Saturday, October 11 at 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Hullet Sugar Bush. Meet at 80602 Wildlife Line and hike the Hullett Sugar bush trails for about 1.5 hours. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com. This is a level 1 moderate fast pace hike

Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca

Midweek hikers meet at 9 a.m. and hike for 1.5 to 2 hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com